Video: How to Make Ciabatta Bread

See how to make homemade no-knead Italian ciabatta bread.

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In this video, you’ll see how to make Italian ciabatta bread from scratch. There’s no kneading required with this method. The loaf comes out of the oven with a crisp, light crust and a chewy, tender, moist, and spongy inside. It’s the perfect bread. See more Chef John videos >>

The 2:1 flour to water ratio does not work with the flour available where I live. To get a similar dough to begin, I use 4 cups flour and 1 1/2-1 3/4 cups water. Add the water until it looks somewhat like the initial dough in the video. Try it his way, if it doesn't come out cut back on your water.

ibwilliamsi

Dec. 17, 2014 1:01 pm

Follow up -
To add Calamata olives to this recipe, I drained and chopped 2/3 cup olives and squeezed out the excess liquid a paper towel. I folded them in after the first rise as I "punched down" the dough with a spatula. Then I just let it rise for two hours and bake per usual. It turned out FANTASTIC. :)

ibwilliamsi

Dec. 11, 2014 3:11 pm

This is my go to recipe for bread. I moved to a small town in the South and there really isn't any decent bread here. This recipe is so simple and delicious. I make it at least once a week. It's not QUITE as bubbly as what I used to buy from any neighborhood store, but better than I can buy anywhere here and too easy not to make it.
Today I am trying the recipe with kalamata olives. I chopped and drained and then squished all the juice/oil out of them. I added just before the final rise. I'll let you know how it worked out.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this bread! I make it every week now. I up the salt to 2 tsp and dissolve a little honey in my warm water before I add it. Then I just let it work it's magic. I've recommended it to all of my friends. I have a bread machine for sale now too. lol

Linda B

Sep. 28, 2014 3:16 pm

Just had the first slices from this awesome loaf! Turned out perfect just like in your video ...... And so easy! Thank you so much .... Gonna view you other videos now for more yummy ideas!

Love your videos, very helpful. Can't wait to make some chiabatta bread! My family calls the end the butt.

Rill

Sep. 13, 2014 7:04 pm

Delicious. So crunchy. Instead of forming it on plastic wrap, I just formed it directly on the pan I cooked it in. Worked great. Just used the spatula to shape it instead of my hands. Since it was sticky, it stuck to the spatula and was easy to manipulate into the right shape. Very little work for a lot of bread awesomeness. :) Love it.